Michael Manley And Black Jamaica

(Jamaica’s great mixed race leader )
 
Michael Manley’s  was a self identified mulatto, he helped Jamaica progress economicall, politically, and educationally.

Michael Manley (born on December 10, 1924 - died March 6, 1997) was perhaps Jamaica’s most popular prime minister (leader). Michael was the son of Jamaican national political hero Norman Manley and famous Jamaican sculptor Edna Manley. Norman Manley was a politician and was the founder of Jamaica’s people’s National Party (PNP).
Norman Manley was Jamaica’s prime minister from 1959 to 1962.

Michael Manley called himself a mulatto because he was mixed race. He served three terms as Jamaica’s prime minister from 1972 to 1980 and 1989 to 1992. He stepped down as prime minister in 1992 because of bad health.
Michael was passionate about third world issues (problems that affected poor Jamaicans and poor people living in poor countries). Michael Manley is one of the most important political fugues in Caribbean history. He really cared about the Jamaican people and many people in Jamaica care about him and admired him. Michael Manley died on March 6, 1997 at the age of 72.

Norman Manley  

Achievements

- a minimum wage for all workers.
- free education at secondary and university level, to the extent of spaces available.
- institution of literacy campaign.
- subdivision of ‘idle lands’ to poor blacks.
- formation of agrarian cooperatives.
- price controls on numerous staples to benefit the poor.
- reduction of voting age to 18 years, thus increasing the black vote.
- institutionalizing paid maternity leave & free milk to mothers.
- public utilities, a large bank and part of the tourism business were rationalized.

Before Manley came to power there was job discrimination directed towards Rastafarians. Most Jamaican employers and even black employers would not hire Rastafarians. Michael Manley encouraged employers to employ (hire) Rastafarians in the work place and many did. Manley helped increase social economic mobility for the poor. Foreign investors dominated Jamaica’s economy for a long time but Manley cut foreign domination by 50%, putting Jamaica’s economy in the hands of the Jamaican people by using businessmen, companies, and Jamaican financial investors.  

He encouraged Jamaican people to be united as one people regardless of race and social class. He used the slogan “better must come” to encourage the people, He instilled a sense of pride and hope that economic development is possible for Jamaica. Under the Michael Manley’s mulatto leadership from the 1970s and 1980s the quality of life improved for all Jamaicans, Rastafarians, and including the majority black population.

 
Edward Philip George Seaga became prime minister of Jamaica from 1980 to 1989 he was elected after Michael Manley’s first term as prime minister. During Michael Manley’s and Seaga’s leaderships Jamaica had problem but the country was better than it was before (1969 on down). Because of Michael Manley being mixed race he is what is classified as mulatto elite.

Those mixed race people who become very successful economically, politically, educationally, etc in life and contribute to the development of society. Often in the Western world Of the Americas and Caribbean the mulatto elite have been leaders over black people. And sometimes mulatto mixed race men still get elected to political office by blacks. The contributions of the mulattoes to the Americas and black people have been numerous in Jamaica. The black population and other non black Jamaicans respect the right of mulattoes (mixed race) to self identify as mulatto. They do not try to force them to identify as black.                                
 
Jamaica currently does not have a one drop blood rule that says one drop of black blood makes you black. Jamaicans realize how ridiculous this would be. It is like saying one drop of white blood makes you white, which is also silly and false.

Mulattoes have contributed to the modernization and economic development of Jamaica all through the 20th century. Michael Manley and his father Norman Manley were living testimonies to the contributions of mulattoes to Jamaica.

Today Jamaica is known as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

Mixed race people should feel proud of knowing that their fellow mulattoes have contributed in helping the Caribbean, United States, Canada, Mexico, South and Central America progress economically, politically, socially, educationally, and inventions.

David Manley Michael's son